; ra. ridge which rises by the side of the Savoyards, singing the Marseillaise river Adoyna ; and the moment they Hymn, to the combat, and, despite a had ascended it, a large force appeared terrible flank fire, vomited forth from in the distance, their muskets glitter. the Austrian artillery, they inade good ing in the faint rays of the sun. It every inch of ground, and boldly drove was the corps of the Baron d'Aspre, the enemy before them. Their career advancing on the road towards Nova. was, however, presently stopped by After carefully surveying the dis- the advance of the division of the tant foe, Pinaldi and Porro turned Count Zielmansegges, and again in their horses, and at full speed galloped their turn they were forced to retreat. back to their post at Olengo, where Fresh troops poured in on each side, they instantly sent word to General and the combat became a general one. Chrzanowski" of the approach of the Count Kollourat, with a large force of enemy. A body of Piedmontese sharp- the enemy, aided by a powerful artil. shooters they found was stationed in a lery, had stormed, near San Mazzaro, group of houses along the road, which several Casine; while the Kaiser Jä. must form the first place of attack. gers had extended themselves to the The two frien is rode along the ranks right of Olengo. The sixteenth regi. of the small body of cavalry, endea- ment of Savona, that had nobly dis. vouring to while away the time which tinguished itself there, against fear. must elapse before the enemy ap. ful odds, was at length forced to proached near enough to commence retreat, and the Duke of Genoa, learn. the deadly strife, by uttering words of ing its situation, instantly led forward encouragement to the brave hearts be. his whole division to its support. The fore them. They were, however, but gallant Marquis of Passalacqua also little needed amongst them, for their hastened to the same post, and wading every pulse beat with anxiety to meet with his troops through the Arboyda, their common foe. Glorious band ! turned the flank of the Austrians, and, in thee Italy beheld sons worthy of her with fearful loss of life, drove them pride! back on Olengo, which the division In a short time the enemy made his under the Austrian Archduke had suc. appearance, and instantly formed in ceeded in occupying. But not long line of battle. With ardour the Aus- did they retain that position ; for the trians advanced to the attack of the Duke of Genoa, disengaging the fourth houses, where were stationed the Pied. regiment, pushed forward to the as. montese sharp-shooters, and drove sault, and, amidst a storm of missiles, them, after a short contest, from the drove the enemy from Olengo. This buildings. The Savona regiment, that momentary victory was dearly bought, had arrived to the aid of their Italian as here fell the gallant Perrone and brothers, rushed onwards to prevent the Marquis Passalacqua, covered with their flight; but numbers prevailed, wounds. and they also were forced to retreat. The day was now far advanced, and The second Savoy regiment, remark. almost the entire of tbe Piedmontese able for its courage and discipline, army was engaged with the divisions now appeared marching hastily to the of Baron d'Aspre and the corps under scene. The instant the Baron per- the command of the Archduke Albert ceived its approach, he gave orders to and his brother, the Sardinians victo. the trumpeters to sound the order to rious on every side, when the third prepare to charge : Austrian division, under General Ap"Italians! now is the moment to pel, appeared on the field of battle to show yourselves worthy your coun- give fresh courage to their dismayed try! Be ready! Justice fights on your friends. Again, with fresh vigour and side !" renewed force, advanced the Austrians Again shrilly blew the trumpets, to the combat ; again pealed forth the and with loud shouts of « Viva l'In. thunder of artillery ; again echoed the dependenza Italiana! Morte ai Tedes- shouts of command-the groans of the chil" onwards, in serried columns, dying. In vain did the enemy pour like a mighty avalanche, dashed that fresh battalion after battalion on the noble band, driving the foe before Sardinian forces — vain the charges them, and giving time to the Savona made with desperate courage; they regiment to form again their disorder- were met with a gallantry and devo ed ranks. Bravely, too, advanced the tion worthy the noblest and brightest cause. Once more did victory gild the charmed life. His sabre reeking with banners of the Savoy Cross, and had the blood of the foe, bis noble form night fallen but then, a new impulse towering above all, the plumes of his would have been given to the Italian helmet backed to pieces, he still fought hope of nationality. The fire of No- on, undaunted, amidst the carnage. vara would have extended throughout Once more, brave King—worthy of a Lombardy, and raised on the rear of nobler fate !_dash thyself on the adthe Austrian a hundred thousand foes vancing enemy; see how he shrinks -unarmed, it is true, but yet formi. before thy blood-stained sabre! The dable in their imposing numbers. Pro- day is lost; but thy deeds of devoted vidence willed the sufferings of Italy heroism will remain embalmed within should still continue-its want of faith the hearts of thy army. Thou seekest its own curse. death, yet cannot find him. Seel thou At this hour, when Heaven seemed art surrounded, and thy hour may be smiling hope on the destinies of Italy, nigh; still, fight on-fight to the last, General Chrzanowski ordered the final What a glorious moment to fall, blow to be struck, and the division of stricken on that field where the General Bes, which hitherto had been blood of many a high spirit devoted to kept in reserve, to advance to the at- thee flows in streams !--thy last deed, tack. In close columns they were combatting for the cause of humanity, preparing for the decisive charge, when But see, who is that who stands by thy Marshal Radetzky, with a formidable side, warding off from thy head many body of artillery, accompanied by six a blow, his body covered with wounds, battalions of grenadiers, made his ap. yet, dauntless, unmindful of his self, pearance on the field of battle, and regarding alone thy own safety ? It instantly the movement was checked is the Baron Pinaldi. Through the by the fire of thirty guns. At the field, dashing over the bodies of the same period also the fourth division, living and the dead, onwards advance under Count Thurn, had crossed the to the rescue! to the rescue!- the Agogna, and, unknown to Chrza. last remnant of the gallant band of nowski, attacked his rear. Secured in Pinaldi, led by Alberico Porro. Their their strength now-in their powerful noble monarch is in danger--wbat care field of artillery -- in the reinforce. they for the fearful odds against them! ments which thus unexpectedly ar- With desperation they charge the asrived to their assistance-the Austrians tonished foe, who thought the kingly on every side rushed to the attack of prize his own, and in an instant the their disheartened but yet unbeaten space is clear. A moment more, and foe. For six long hours had the Sar- it would have been too late-the Baron dinian army been now engaged, their Pinaldi bas sunk to the ground, a numbers thinned, their strength almost sabre-cut severing his head from his exhausted. Now were seen in their body. But quick !--the danger is not ranks, as the order was given to re- yet past. In a close column, the King treat, deeds worthy of being chroni- in their centre, they retreat, fighting cled in the page of history - danger every inch of ground against the fear, despised_honour, patriotism, animat- ful foe that pressed upon their steps. ing still their courage. The Duke of In a moment more, they are compara, Genoa exposed himself in the very tively safe ; they have joined the troops thickest of the fight-now charging on of General Durando, who, in good or, horseback, now battling on foot his der, are effecting their retreat. Amidst example giving courage to the weary the prayers of those around him, the troops wherever be appeared. And King refuses to leave the field. "Ge. where during all this time was the ill. neral !" exclaimed ho to Durando, "let fated monarch, who had so nobly risked me die on the field-this should be my his throne for Italy's sake? He, too, last day!" Alas! his destiny was not throughout the entire day, had en. there he was to offer still the mourn. dured the same hardships and danger ful spectacle of fallen majesty. Not as the commonest soldier in his ranks, till near eight o'clock that evening did rushing wherever it was most to be Carlo Alberto leave the fatal field, on found, and often carrying victory which was wrecked the last hopes of wherever he came. Amongst a storm poor Italy. Weep! weep! Italy, the of bullets that had twice killed horses stranger still exults in thy slavery, under him, he seemed to bear a misery, degradation ! gory CHAPTER XXI. CONCLUSION. * And when he saddest sits in homely cell, He'll teach his swains this carol for a song- -THE AGED MAN-AT-ARMS. * Your glorious father, in consummating his last and lamentable sacrifice, has crowned the virtues which will ever render great in Italy the name of the restorer of our liberties."- Address of the Sardinian Senate la King Victor Emmanuel, 29th March, 1849. pever to return. It was night. The dark band of Time Civilisation, of Justice, and of Right. slowly and mournfully had passed on. Novara! thy name will never be for. ward since our last chapter. Another gotten, for time can never erase thy few hours and the town of Novara was mournful and disastrous remembrance. enshrouded in a darkness, lit only here In a saloon of the Belliori's Palace, and there by a few solitary stars, whose at Novara, with irregular paces, strode mild beams lent a still sadder look to the Carlo Alberto, the true, the brave, and field of carnage, desolation, and death. virtuous. The tottering form, the Night!-ah, who can forget that night? countenance overcast with care and In its short space fell the hopes of thou- sorrow, the nervous twitching of the sands of brave and noble hearts_hearts frame, told how terribly he felt the that but the night previous beat high reverses of his army and of his country. and quick with earnest fervour for Who could believe that in the space of country and home. Those same scenes a few hours such a change could have then echoed with the heart-stirring come over him, as if years had passed martial song of war, carrying in its over bis head? The bold and erect frame potes the brightest inspirations of the was there no longer; the bright, intel. human mind, and teeming with a thou- ligent glance of the eye was gone; the sand wishes, wildly and joyously utter- cheerful tone had fled--all departed, ed, for the independence of their native And in their stead land. Where now were the sounds of was beheld the old and infirm step of those happy songs? Gone ; and in age, bowed down by grief and despair. their place were heard on every side the Frightful it is to see the effect of mind wail of lamentation and despair, the over body--the giant spirit triumphing groans of the wounded, the prayers of over matter, and asserting his imperial the dying, the efforts of officers to con. sway. The most acute pain, the most duct and array their soldiers in order, intense agony, can never accomplish in the struggling, the shouts of command years what despair effects in bours. all presenting a mass of horror and Nor did I ever see it realised to such confusion impossible to describe. Those a terrible extent, as I did in the person alone who were present could form a of the late ill-fated King of Sardinia. picture of the scene of heart-sickening Kind reader, pardon me, if at this despair ; and how bitter and terrible period, when my tale draws to a con. was the disappointment felt, far more clusion, I pause for a few moments to even in that scene of agony, of those offer my tribute of respect to him who bright hopes of national emancipation, is beyond human censure, and to defend so long wished for, and which were the memory of the dead from the cacarried out with a boldness, and energy, lumnies that have been, with no spar. and virtue, perhaps the world will never ing hand, heaped on the head of one, witness again. Night !-yes, it was whose memory has, and ever will night indeed. The exile, torn from be, retained by his countrymen in his home, banished from his country, grateful remembrance. That Carlo plundered of all most dear to him in Alberto had his failings, as I have belife, never hears that fatal night men- fore observed in this tale, is not to be tioned but his heart becomes that of a denied; but where is the man who is child, and in vain he weeps over the perfect? That over him stole at times memory of those brave-hearted com- a gloom of character, from which it was panions who fell on the field of battle, difficult to draw him ; that in these momanfully combating for the cause of ments a bigotry of disposition marked a his course, cannot be denied ; but then true exponents of the genius of modern stand forth, in bold relief, many and Italian liberty. Mazzini and his small many noble virtues, making us forget party, for small it is, may stand forth the imperfections, whilst admiring those and assert such to be the case ; but qualities so worthy a king. The asy- facts are not to be controverted and lum he always afforded in his kinggainsayed by boastful assertions. The dom to exiles from every other part of votes of the people of Vilan, of Parma, Italy—the noble manliness with which of Piacenza, and of other towns the he always resisted the efforts of Aus- votes of the Venetian Assembly at the tria and the other adjoining despotic period of the Revolution-all tend to states to deliver them up to their tender prove the truth of what I advance, that mercies-should alone be sufficient to Ituly is not Republican in heart, but endear his memory in the mind of every earnestly panting for a liberul monartrue Italian whose heart beats respon- chical government, heuded by the House sive to the call of liberty. But apart of Sardinia.* Even the legions who from this consideration—the attention fought so valiantly in Rome were not he paid to commerce, to the encourage- Republicans. The one of Manara, the ment of art and science, to the wants best and bravest, openly wore the cross of agriculturists, his gift of a liberal of Savoy on their sword-belts, and constitution to his people, and the continually declared they were not Reflourishing position Sardinia was in publicans.† Mazzini, aware of this throughout his reign, so different to fact, in asserting all the volunteers in antecedents-tend to prove he was a Rome were special partisans of big monarch not merely in name, but also in dogmas, must knowingly have asserter mind. Nor would there be need for me, a falsehood. Mariotti, in his able were the history of my country, with its work, justly observes, Mazzini's “fuith religious, social, and political position, is in God and the people - he alove read and understood in the United God's interpreter-the people his blind Kingdom, to place here on record my instruments." And it was because the humble assertion of well-known facts; Revolution of Lombardy broke out, for then they would in themselves at independent of any agency of hisonce repel, and with indignation, the every act of the drama of it concocted efforts made by disappointed ambition unknown to him-Mazzini's pride took to sully the character of the de- umbrage at what he considered an inparted. And who are these parties sult to his dignity, and forgetting prinwho are continually tearing away ciple and country, he determined, from the veil of decency which should the instant he put foot on Lombard cover the unfortunate and the gravem soil—the soil freed from the hands of where should rest for ever the private its oppressors by its own gallant sonsanimosities of our nature - the good the soil wbere he himself was prevented only to be remembered, the wrong for- from showing his person for many a gotten — who are these men, I ask? long year— to mark his gratitude by The answer is, a small section of Red doing all which lay within his power Republicans or modern Socialists, who to stab Italy to the heart. Ilis every I deny, and deny emphatically, are the act pursued during the existence of the * On the 9th of June, 1848, the result of the voting at Milan was as follows:-561,000 for immediate annexation to Piedmont; 681 for putting off the question until the war had terminated. The votes of the Venetian Assembly for immediate annexation to Lombardy and Piedmont, 127 ; against, 6. At Piacenza, for a union with Piedmont, 37,000; with Lombardy, 69; with the States of the Church, 300; with Parma, 10. At Parma, only one voted for a Republic. † Mazzini says, “ The heroes of the barricades, the volunteers in Tyrol and Friuli, the Roman and Swiss auxiliaries, were all Republican. The Manara Legion, the bravest and best organised of these free corps, served at Rome for the Republic, always declaring they were no Republicans, insisting on bearing the Cross of Savoy on their sword-belts,' and went consequently by the name of aristocrates.”_See Dandolo. I “ Verily we say it, from the depth of our soul, by that ill-timed protest (in which he declared the Provisional Government had betrayed their mission)—by that still more unstasonable vindication of his principles, by which the ardour of the Lombard population was thus miserably wasted in worse than unprofitable discussion-Mazzini, so far as lay in his power, stabbed Italy to the beart.”—Mariotti. VOL. XLVI._NO. CCLXXV. 2 | rovisional government, proved such picable, was, but a short time prior, * Mazzini admitted to Capponi that Italy did not seem inclined for a republic; yet the effort should be made. † Farini thus describes Mazzini ::- -" In theology he is a deist, a pantheist, and a rationali-t, by turns, or a compound of all. He might seem a Christian, but none can tell whether Catholic or Protestant, or of what denomination. At one time he appeared in everything to copy La Mennais—another man without a system. He was not always a republican, or did not show it, at any rate, wlien, in 1832, he invited King Charles Albert to act the liberator. If republican he were, it was a strange kind of republic he fancied, when, in ’47, he exhorted Pius IX. . to have faith,' and thought him capable of every rational, humanitariun effort. At another time he wrote against the theories of what is called socialism ; then, when the wheel went round, he concocted a fresh essay, and allied with the socialists of ali nations." |